Crypto Scams Targeting Teens
Fake investment schemes, sextortion paid in Bitcoin or gift cards, in-game rug-pulls and Robux trading scams that bridge to crypto wallets. How to spot them and use Action Fraud.
What is this?
Teenagers are an increasingly attractive target for online financial crime. Common patterns include 'guaranteed return' crypto investment groups, sextortion demands paid in Bitcoin or Amazon / Steam gift cards, fake influencer airdrops, and in-game scams (Robux trading, Fortnite skin scams, rare-item swaps) that bridge to external crypto wallets. Many teens do not tell parents because they feel embarrassed or worry about losing their device or game account. Action Fraud is the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime; calm, early reporting protects both the young person and others being targeted.
How it works
A scammer makes contact in a Discord server, Telegram group, gaming voice chat, or social-media DM, often posing as a peer, gamer, or influencer. They offer an investment 'opportunity', a discounted skin, a free airdrop, or threaten to share an image unless paid. Payment is requested in cryptocurrency or gift cards because they are difficult to reverse. Some scams ask the young person to install a wallet or to share a recovery phrase — which immediately drains any future funds.
Warning signs
In your child's behaviour
- • Sudden requests to buy Amazon, Steam, iTunes, or Google Play gift cards for an online friend
- • Talk of a 'guaranteed' or 'risk-free' investment, often involving someone they have only met online
- • Pressure or panic when checking their phone, especially around messaging apps or gaming platforms
- • Asking to borrow money or selling possessions to send to someone online
- • Sudden interest in setting up a crypto wallet or transferring money out of a savings account
On their device
- • Crypto wallets (MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Phantom) installed without parent knowledge
- • Telegram, Discord, or Signal groups with names referring to trading, 'signals' or 'pumps'
- • Browser history showing gift-card top-up sites, exchanges, or fake influencer giveaway pages
Prevention steps
Teach the 'no legitimate person asks for gift cards' rule
Banks, HMRC, police, and real friends do not ask for payment in Amazon, Steam, iTunes, or Google Play vouchers. Make this an explicit family rule. The same applies to anyone asking for a crypto recovery phrase.
Lock down in-game trading and external links
On Roblox, restrict trading and chat. In Fortnite and similar games, talk about how 'free V-Bucks' or 'skin generator' sites are universally scams. Never click external links from in-game chats.
Make it safe to admit a mistake
Shame is the scammer's best friend. Tell your child explicitly that if they ever lose money, send an image, or share a wallet phrase, they will not be in trouble — you will help them report it and move on.
What to do if it happens
- 1Stop all further contact and payment immediately. Do not pay 'one more' instalment — scammers escalate as long as money keeps moving.
- 2Report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. If the demand involves intimate images, also report to CEOP and IWF, and call 999 if your child is in immediate danger.
- 3Contact your bank to flag any card payments, reset the relevant gaming and email accounts, and check whether crypto wallets have had their seed phrase exposed. Childline (0800 1111) and Samaritans (116 123) can support emotional impact.
Related topics
If you need to report this
In immediate danger: call 999. For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
Concerned about a child but it's not an emergency? NSPCC helpline 0808 800 5000. Childline for young people 0800 1111.
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
Was this page helpful?
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22